Date: 11/24/25 7:31 am From: Chris Marsh (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Curlew Sanpiper
Reading the description I see why one might think this is a curlew
sandpiper, but this bird’s bill is not the right shape for a curlew
sandpiper. A curlew sandpiper’s bill is is more strongly decurved than the
bill of this dunlin and the tip is more slender
Chris Marsh
(843)252-9784
<cmarshlci...>
On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 10:25 AM Karen LORENZO <carolinabirds...>
wrote:
> The bird in the image is a *Curlew Sandpiper* (*Calidris ferruginea*) in
> non-breeding plumage. It can be distinguished from a Dunlin by its
> slightly larger size, longer legs, and longer, finer, more downcurved bill.
>
>
> I have seen a dunlin before, generally the head
> on the dunlin is more stout.
>
> This is what came up when adding the
> image to "Google image"
>
> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025, 10:20 AM Michael Fogleman <fogleman...>
> wrote:
>
>> I found Karen's photos here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DRcNtGSEWyh/ >>
>> Michael
>> Cary, NC
>>
>> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025 at 9:52 AM Karen LORENZO <carolinabirds...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Not on either of them, sorry.
>>>
>>> It is posted to instagram under rare bird
>>> #rareshorebird
>>>
>>> On Mon, Nov 24, 2025, 9:40 AM Robert Lewis <rfermat...> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Can you post photos to ebird or "What's this Bird" on facebook?
>>>>
>>>> Bob Lewis
>>>> Durham NC
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Monday, November 24, 2025 at 08:30:28 AM EST, Karen LORENZO" (via
>>>> carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I'm not an avid birder, I just happened upon this bird while at Fort
>>>> Fisher.
>>>>
>>>> When I looked up the photos I had taken, research says it is a curlew
>>>> sandpiper.
>>>>
>>>> * After migrating to the Arctic from as far away as South Africa,
>>>> male Curlew Sandpipers only stay for about 10 days to breed before heading
>>>> back south. Females stay longer to incubate eggs and care for chicks, but
>>>> as soon as the young are independent (at 2–3 weeks of age), females also
>>>> take off to the south.
>>>> * With its penchant for flying long distances, Curlew Sandpiper can
>>>> turn up just about anywhere. This species is a rare but regular visitor to
>>>> North America, where it has occurred in at least 45 U.S. states and all 10
>>>> Canadian provinces
>>>>
>>>>
